One of town’s underground hot spots is a petite restaurant in Kaimuki simply called Town. Located on Waialae Avenue, you miss it if you blink your eyes. For such a tiny eatery, it has earned national recognition by placing in MSN’s “10 Hot Restaurants Near You”. It has also earned local recognition by receiving Honolulu Magazine’s 2006 Hale Aina Award for ‘Best New Restaurant’, as well as a 2007 Hale Aina Award for ‘Best Bistro/New American Cuisine’.

I decided to do my first review on Town because I was in the mood for something a little different… quality food with a quirky twist. Town seemed like the perfect place.

Parking is limited, but then again, so is the seating in the restaurant. You can usually find parking behind the restaurant (and it’s free – a rarity anywhere in town these days!). Reservations are highly recommended and can be done so at OpenTable.com where you can earn reward points, which can be applied to future eating escapades.

When we got to the restaurant a little before 7:00, it was already crowded and bustling with noise. Since we had reservations, we were seated immediately. Town is known for their earth-friendly menu… literally. Their menus are printed daily on recycled paper and attached to cardboard clipboards. Town’s motto is, “Local first, organic whenever possible, with Aloha always”. Their food is always fresh and the menu changes daily. The furniture consists of a lot of wood, and their walls showcase local art. Even their to-go boxes are recycled cardboard (no Styrofoam here!). The creative minds behind Town are Chef/Owner Ed Kenney and Chef de Cuisine Dave Caldiero.

Town has many specialty drinks to choose from, but I decided to try their lemonade, which they are famous for. And I have to say, it was really delicious and had a unique taste. Yellowish-green in color, this is not your typical lemonade. The restaurant flavors the drink with mint and parsley juice. While we were there, we had to try an alcoholic drink so we decided to order the “Ginger & Mary Anne” (Gilligan’s Island fan, anyone?). This drink is described as being made of “muddled ginger, maker’s mark, and fresh squeezed lemon”. The drink was interesting to say the least, and had that long-lasting “kick”.

Ginger & Mary Anne

To start off with, we tried the Kulana grass fed roulade (a slice of stuffed meat that is rolled), which was served with sweet corn relish and wild arugula. If you can handle your beef prepared medium well or below, then you’ll love this tasty dish. The meat was very tender and was well complimented by the corn and arugula. While dining at Town, you also get a complimentary round of bread with butter and an assortment of olives.

Complimentary bread & olives

Kulana Grass Fed Roulade

I decided to try their pan roasted chicken with torn bread, tatsoi (also known as rosette bok choy), grapes, and pancata. The chicken was very flavorful, but the best part about this dish was the torn bread. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but to my surprise, it turned out to be similar to large croutons. The “croutons” were crispy and chewy all at the same time. The grapes also added an interesting touch to the dish. Each bite that had a grape in it was a surprising, but sweet explosion that balanced the dish.

Pan Roasted Chicken

If you’re a steak eater, then a must-try is the Kulana rib eye, prepared with Roquefort butter and served with Town’s homemade French fries. The French fries alone make ordering this dish worth it. The fries are deep-fried until dark golden brown. I consider myself a “French fry connoisseur” and these fries are GOOD. Lightly tossed with fresh herbs and salt, these fries need nothing else. I must warn you though that the rib eye may not be what you’re used to. Because Town serves locally raised, grass-fed beef, their meat does have a slightly gamey taste to it. Hardcore meat lovers and organic foodies alike would love this dish.

Kulana Rib Eye

If you still have room, you have to try a dessert at Town. Their desserts change all the time and all sound so delicious, including their fabulous handmade sorbets and gelatos. I decided to try the almond financier (French tea cake). This dessert was a perfect, sweet ending to a rather heavy meal. The dessert was small in stature, but had a consistency similar to mochi. It had a great almond flavor and was accompanied by fresh whipped cream and marinated fruit.

Financier (French tea cake)

Final thoughts: Town provided exactly what I was in the mood for, which was a unique and fulfilling dining experience. I would recommend going at a non-peak time if possible, as the restaurant does get crowded and noisy. For 2 drinks, 1 appetizer, 2 entrees, and 1 dessert, the bill totaled to under $80 (not including tip). If you’re looking to try something different, the writing in the sidewalk in front of the restaurant says it best: Go to Town.

Service:		Average
Food:		Above Average
Atmosphere:		Above Average
Overall Value:		Above Average

*Star ratings are based in comparison to similar establishments

Town
3435 Waialae Avenue. Kaimuki, HI 96816
Phone: 808.735.5900

Breakfast: Monday - Saturday: 6:30am - 11:00am
Lunch: Monday - Saturday: 11:00am - 2:00pm
Light Lunch menu: Monday - Saturday: 2:00pm - 5:30pm
Dinner: Monday - Thursday: 5:30pm - 9:30pm, Friday - Saturday: 5:30pm - 10:00pm

Tags: Hawaii Food, Hawaii Food Review, Town, Kulana fed beef, Ed Kenney, Dave Caldiero

---

Other Popular Reviews:

Reviews

Cholo’s Homestyle Mexican

Hakone

---

All reviews are conducted anonymously and paid for by Locokinegrindz.com writers. Reviews are a reflection of the writer's opinion and are not to be assumed as fact.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 1st, 2008 at 8:01 am and is filed under Contemporary, Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.